The position of Under-Secretary of State for War was a British government position, first applied to Evan Nepean (appointed in 1794). In 1801 the offices for War and the Colonies were merged and the post became that of Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854 and remained until 1947, when it was combined with that of Financial Secretary to the War Office. In 1964 the War Office, Admiralty and Air Ministry were merged to form the Ministry of Defence, and the post was abolished.
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| 1794 - 1795 | |
| 1795 - 1801 | |
See Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies for the period 1801-1854.
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| 1854 - 1855 | |
| 1855 - 1857 | |
| 1857 - 1858 | |
| 1858 - March 1859 | |
| March 1859 - June 1859 | |
| June 1859 - January 1861 | |
| January 1861 - July 1861 | |
| July 1861 - 1863 | |
| 1863 - February 1866 | |
| February 1866 - July 1866 | |
| July 1866 - 1868 | |
| 1868 - 1872 | |
| 1872 - 1874 | |
| 1874 - 1875 | |
| 1875 - 1878 | |
| 1878 - 1880 | |
| 1880 - 1885 | |
| 1885 - February 1886 | |
| February 1886 - August 1886 | |
| August 1886 - 1890 | |
| 1890 - 1892 | |
| 1892 - January 1895 | |
| January 1895 - July 1895 | |
| July 1895 - 1898 | |
| 1898 - 1900 | |
| 1900 - 1902 | |
| 1902 - 1903 | |
| 1903 - 1905 | |
| 1905 - 1908 | |
| 1908 - 1911 | |
| 1911 - 1912 | |
| 1912 - 1916 | |
| 1916 | |
| 1916 - 1919 | |
| 1919 - 1921 | |
| 1921 - 1922 | |
| 1922 - 1923 | |
| 1923 - 1924 | |
| 1924 | |
| 1924 - 1928 | |
| 1928 - 1929 | |
| 1929 - 1930 | |
| 1930 - 1931 | |
| Office vacant | 1931 |
| 1931 - 1934 | |
| 1934 - 1939 | |
| 1939 | |
| 1939 - 1940 | |
| 1940 - 1942 | |
| 1942 - 1943 | |
| 1943 - 1945 | |
| 1945 - 1946 | |
| 1946 - April 1947 | |
In April 1947 the office was combined with that of Financial Secretary to the War Office.
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| 1947 - ? | |
| ? - 1951 | |
| 1951 | |
| 1951 - 1954 | |
| 1954 - 1957 | |
| 1957 - 1958 | |
| 1958 - 1960 | |
| 1960 - 1963 | |
| 1963 - April 1964 | |
Office reorganised 1 April 1964
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| 1854 - 1857 | |
| 1857 - 1862 | |
| 1862 - 1871 | |
| John Vivian.[1] | 1871 - 1878 |
| Sir Ralph Wood Thompson | 1878 - 1895 |
| 1895 - 1897 | |
| Sir Ralph Henry Knox | 1897 - 1901 |
| 1901 - 1914 | |
| 1914 - 1920 | |
| Sir Herbert Creedy | 1920 - 1939 |
| 1939 - 1942 | |
| Sir Frederick Bovenschen and Sir Eric Speed | 1942 - 1945 |
| Sir E. Speed | 1945 - 1948 |
| Sir G. Turner | 1949 - 1956 |
| 1956 - 1960 | |
| 1960 - 1963 | |
| A. Drew | 1963 - 1964 |